Do you have a watermelon in the fridge that’s about to spoil? Then this homemade watermelon granita is just what you need! It’s made without an ice cream maker, with few ingredients, and is perfect for enjoying on hot days. All you need is a blender and a bit of patience to stir it occasionally during freezing. The result? A natural granita, perfectly sweet, without coloring or preservatives!
An ultra-fresh summer dessert, perfect for not wasting overripe watermelon!
Follow me on Instagram @troppo_buonissimo and join my delicious community!
Discover more easy and delicious recipes like this, perfect to save and remake whenever you want:
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Portions: 5 People
- Cooking methods: Stove
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Summer
Ingredients for making watermelon granita
- 4 cups watermelon
- 7 tbsp water
- 7 tbsp sugar
- Half lemon juice
Steps
Prepare the sugar syrup: in a small pot, heat the water with the sugar, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Bring to a gentle boil, then turn off the heat and let cool completely.
Take the watermelon, remove the rind, discard the seeds, cut into cubes, and weigh 850 g (about 4 cups).
Using an immersion blender, blend the watermelon with the lemon juice until smooth.
Add the cooled syrup to the watermelon puree and mix well.
Pour everything into a shallow and wide container, cover with a lid or plastic wrap, and place in the freezer.
Every 30-45 minutes, stir with a fork to break up the ice crystals. Repeat for at least 4 hours until you achieve a granita consistency.You can prepare the granita in advance and leave it in the freezer overnight; it will solidify into a single block.
Just remove it from the freezer 30/40 minutes before serving and scrape it with a fork, or blend it to achieve a creamy texture again, just like freshly made!
How to store watermelon granita?
You can store it in the freezer for 5-6 days.
If left overnight, it will freeze into a compact block: remove it 30-40 minutes before serving and scrape with a fork.
Or cut it into pieces and blend briefly to return to the perfect consistency.
Useful Tips
Use a very ripe watermelon: it’s sweeter and ideal for “saving” with this recipe!
If you want a stronger flavor, you can increase the lemon juice to 1 whole.
Add fresh mint or lime zest for extra aroma!
For a lighter version, you can also use 80 g (about 6 tbsp) of sugar if the watermelon is very sweet.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
What is the lemon for?
It balances the sweetness of the watermelon and syrup.
It adds freshness and a more “summery” touch.
It helps maintain the vibrant red color (acidity slows oxidation).
It improves the preservation of the granita.
